Tisean Daniels, GM + Managing Partner of Ama Cocina in downtown Albany, talks tacos, tattoos + the tea on cold-brewed tequila.

Christy Counts, the founder of Neverstill Wines, talks about the Finger Lakes, wine cocktails, opening in Hudson + her passion for animal welfare.

Adam Minegar, owner of Hemlock in Catskill, talks theater, making the 2025 Esquire best bar list, and opening a craft cocktail bar in a small town upstate.

Tom Blassman, bartender at Allen Street Pub, talks flair, fencing and crafting cocktails — with a focus on bacon built in.

Tom Blassman of the Allen Street Pub doubles down on bacon in his ‘Little Pig in the Big City’ cocktail with bacon-fat-washed bourbon and a garnish of a bacon-wrapped shrimp.

Kat Dunn, owner of Padrona in Hudson talks hospitality, Cape Cod summers, tiki cocktails and the time-honored tradition of tending bar. Padrona is a cocktail bar in Hudson, N.Y.

Nate Gebhard, official Dean of Cocktails at Night School in Athens, N.Y., talks to The Dishing about theater, growing up in Minnesota + crafting cocktails for a small-town pizza parlor.

Aaron Wilson, co-owner of The Larkin Hi-Fi and Herbie’s Burgers, talks Japanese denim, Martha Stewart, and the scoop on where Herbie’s will open next. The Albany bar owner uses Asian flavors as inspiration at his Tokyo-style record bar. 

Aaron Wilson puts phở  on the cocktail list at The Larkin Hi-Fi Record Bar in Albany’s Center Square.

First set alight and then cooled off with aloe and ice, “Sunburn” is an off-menu cocktail at The Hill, in Troy, a rebrand of The Hill at Muza by new owner Jonathan Blanchard.

Spotlight on a Pour: “Midnight Mirage” by bar manager, Nate Gebhard, at Night School in Athens.